The Republican journal., 1887-11-17
The Water Works Dam swept Away.
LITTLE RIVER BRIDGE WRECKED. THE RUI
WROUGHT BY TUESDAYS RAIN.

LITTLE RIVER BRIDGE WRECKED. THE RUIN
WROUGHT BY TUESDAYS RAIN.
Wednesday morning it was first reported about
town that Little River bridge had been carried
away, and this was soon followed by the more
startling story that the water works dam had sue
cumbed to the freshet caused by the rain of the
previous day. Many were incrcdulous until the
arrival of persons from the scene of disaster re-
moved all doubts and then there was string of
vehicles and pedestrians proceeding in that direc-
ton. A Journal representative was among the
number, and the first place visited was the lower
dam and pumping station. \ sad scene was here
presented. About fifty feet in length and fifteen
feet in depth of the dam had been washed away
leaving only the abutments on the ends and these
were badly cracked. From the break down stream
nearly half way to Little River bridge were scat
tered blocks of granite, weighing in some instances
two and three tons, which had been used in the
construction of the dam. just below the water
company's dam was the old wooden dam built some
years since by Sibley Townsend which remained
standing, notwithstanding the pressure it must
have received. Farther down stream what was
left of Little River bridge could be The en-
tire central span is gone and the stone abutments
on the Belfast side so washed and torn away that
IL Will nave 10 DC fcDult. Inc NoO'lcn
cobwork on the Northport side stood the pressure
better and the repairs there will not be heavy.
The heavy blocks of stone holding the iron rods
which supported the railing were swept away and
the rods twisted and bent. Below the bridge the
water flowed over the land of George Burd to
within eight feet of his front door All along the
shore were empty cement barrels, trees torn up by
the roots, and debris of every description. Above
the dam the damage was slight.
Mr.. Marshall Parks was met on the scene of dis
aster and we are indebted to him for the following
information: Mr.. Parks says that he measured
the water at the dam Tuesday at 430 I. NJ, and
found it was then within six feet of the top and
rising slowly The water did not begin to rise
very rapidly until O'Clock T. NJ. At ii O'Clock it
was flowing over the top. Late in the afternoon
Mr.. Parks placed a heavy brace against the gate
and he thinks this was all that saved the entire
end next 10 the pumping station. Mr.. Parks has
had charge of the building of the dam and he says
that in his opinion the dam wouu have stood the
strain if the cement had had chance to harden,
but the rain came in just the worst time for them.
In one more day the dam would have been con-.
pieted and it was Il sad sight to see the work OF
months swept away in few hours. The water
company will not rehuild this fall a. the body of
water in the river will prevent all operations but
in the coming year will erect heavier dam
strengthened by iron trusScs
As nearly as could he ascertained the dam gave
way at one o'clock Wednesday morninc. Persons
living in the neighborhood heard a era III at about
that time. Strange to say, those living nearest the
Burd family, did not know of the disaster until
they rose at their accustomed hour "Wednesday
morning.
1t Is cas-! to say 81 told you So after the thing.
has happened. but many had remarked upon the
apparent slightnesS of the broken structure, and
we doubt If the engineers realized the i.llnense
body of water that comes down this stream after a
heavy rain. And it comes all at once, there being
no growth Of trees along the supplying watershed
to hold it back.
An estimate Of the damage cannot we'll be made
50 far the water company is concerned. as it in
clu,les not only the present loss but the building Of
new dam. Under the contract with the clt5 OF
Belfast the Water Company is responsible for the
damage to the bridge at Little River
The breaking Of the dam will not cause any de.
lay in filling the pipe system the upper dam re-
mains intact, thus insuring a supply for the stand
pipe.
The Water Company estimate their loss lit SO,
600.